Lawn Care

Spring Fertilizer

Spring Fertilizer

Rake the lawn in April when it’s firm enough to walk on without leaving footprints.

Apply Parkwood® 18-0--6 Lawn Food for strong, green growth. Some of the Nitrogen (the first number in the formula) will release quickly for a rich green, carpet effect while the rest slow releases over a 6-8 week period.

Apply Parkwood® 9-1-1 with Kelp, if you had Crabgrass the previous year. It can be used up to mid-May to prevent crabgrass seed from returning.

When using either fertilizer, water in well immediately after application.

Now is the time to prepare for grub control and lawn insects such as the European Chafer. Apply Nematodes to your lawn according to the package directions. Nematodes will move into the root zone to control the grubs where they are feeding.

For the best results, apply Nematodes in July to mid-August when larvae are actively feeding near the surface.

Fall Fertilizer

Fall Fertilizer

Apply Parkwood® 10-0-14 Fall Fertilizer in the autumn anytime from September to November. This is crucial for strengthening your lawn to set through the winter months.

Make certain you water in well after application.

The 14 in the formula is Potassium which builds resistance to winter injury and disease.

If you were troubled by Crab Grass this season, you can apply Parkwood® 9-1-1 with Kelp now.

Seeding Your Lawn

Seeding Your Lawn

Your lawn can become thin and patchy for many reasons including shade, heavy traffic, drought, insects, and disease. To rejuvenate and thicken your lawn, overseed in spring and early fall.

Start by cutting the lawn shorter than usual and rake the area thoroughly.

Prepare the area for repair by first raking it clean and roughen up the soil surface with a rake.

Put down a root-promoting soil mix like Fafard Viva Lawn®.

In the area to be seeded spread Viva Lawn Repair.

Spread the seed by using a hand spreader. Use 20% more grass seed than you need to ensure proper coverage and to account for birds eating the seed. For larger areas or for overseeding the entire lawn, use a rotary spreader.

Rake in seed lightly with a grass rake and tamp gently.

Rope off the seeded area to avoid disturbance to the seedbed.

Water well and keep moist for the next 4-5 weeks. The bluegrass content in the Parkwood® mixtures takes approx 3-4 weeks to germinate.

For even thicker turf, seed again in September when the days are still warm and the evenings cool.

Seeding a New Lawn

Seeding a New Lawn

To seed a new lawn, remove all stones and construction materials from the site.

Wood that’s buried will cause mushrooms to grow in your lawn. This will continue until the wood’s completely decomposed which can take several years.

Slope the area gently away from the house and rake level.

Be sure you have a 10 cm (4”) base of top quality topsoil or 3 in 1. To calculate your soil and grass seed needs, bring in your square footage to any Sheridan Nurseries Garden Centre. A staff member will help determine how much you need.

Spread the soil over your lawn area, add Fafard Viva Lawn®, according to the package instructions on the box and mix into the existing soil with a rototiller.

Rake the soil level, spread seed, and tamp according to the instructions above.

Rope off the seeded area and keep well watered for 4-5 weeks.

Sod

Sod

Sod is the quickest way to repair bald spots. Bring your area measurements to your local Sheridan Nurseries for instructions on sizing.

Follow the preparation instructions above for seeding a new lawn and start laying the rolls of sod starting at the rear of your area and work to the front, so you’re not walking on the new sod.

Ensure each strip is firmly butted up against the previous one so there aren’t any gaps.

With a lawn roller that’s one-third filled with water (any more and it will be too heavy) roll the whole area to eliminate air pockets and to ensure the sod makes contact with the soil below.

Water the area for 3-4 hours afterwards.

Lift a corner of the sod to make sure water has penetrated through the sod to the soil base below.

Water each day for the next two weeks and keep moist during hot summer weather. Mow as needed.